U.S. Route 421 in Kentucky
U.S. Route 421 (US 421) in the U.S. state of Kentucky is a 250.536-mile-long (403.199 km) north–south United States highway that traverses twelve counties in the central and eastern parts of the state. It travels in a southeast-to-northwest path from the Virginia state line near Pennington Gap to the Indiana state line, on the Ohio River at Milton, Kentucky and Madison, Indiana.[2]
Route information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Maintained by KYTC | ||||
Length | 250.536 mi[1] (403.199 km) | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | ||||
North end | ||||
Location | ||||
Counties | Harlan, Leslie, Clay, Jackson, Rockcastle, Madison, Fayette, Scott, Woodford, Franklin, Shelby, Henry, Trimble | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Route description
Virginia state line to Manchester
US 421 enters Harlan County from Lee County, Virginia, and meets US 119 near Harlan. At Hyden, US 421 turns westward towards Clay County, and crosses the Hal Rogers Parkway via an overpass without access near Manchester.[3]
Manchester to Richmond
At Manchester, US 421 turns northwestward towards Jackson County, through McKee. It traverses the far northeastern corner of Rockcastle County before entering Madison County where it joins U.S. 25 south of Richmond near the Blue Grass Army Depot. US 25 and US 421 runs concurrently through Richmond, and all the way to the I-75 junction.[4]
Metro Lexington to Frankfort
US 25/421 also runs concurrently with I-75 between Exits 97 and 99. After Exit 99, the two U.S. routes continue to run concurrently until downtown Lexington just after crossing US 27/60/68. While US 25 makes a right turn onto Georgetown Road, US 421 continues straight northwestward, as Leestown Pike, towards Midway and Frankfort.[5]
Frankfort to Ohio River
In Frankfort, US 421 has concurrencies with US 60 on the east side of town, and US 127 on the north side. US 421 continues northwestward into Henry and far northern Shelby counties before crossing the Exit 34 exit of I-71. US 42 in Bedford is the last major intersection in Kentucky before US 421 crosses the Ohio River from Trimble County into Jefferson County, Indiana.[6]
History
Location | Frankfort-Lexington, Kentucky |
---|---|
Length | 20.5 mi (33.0 km) |
Existed | 1929–1952? |
US 421 did not have any presence in Kentucky until it was extended into Kentucky and Indiana at one point between 1939 and 1957, probably in the late 1940s or early 1950s.[7] When US 421 was designated into Kentucky, it was routed onto the following existing routes:
- KY 66 from the Virginia state line to Harlan,[8]
- KY 257 from Harlan to Hyden,
- KY 80 from Hyden to Manchester,
- KY 21 from Manchester to Big Hill,
- KY 169 from Big Hill to Richmond (including US 25 concurrency),
- KY 50 from downtown Lexington to Frankfort,[8] and
- KY 37 from Frankfort to the Indiana state line at Milton.[9]
Current statuses for original assignments of pre-existing routes
- KY 37 now runs from Gravel Switch to Junction City to Danville, in Marion and Boyle Counties in Central Kentucky.
- The remainders of KY 21, KY 169, and KY 257 still retained their original alignments off the current US 421.
- KY 50 no longer exists in the state route system.
- KY 66 is now assigned to a road in Bell, western Leslie and eastern Clay Counties in southeast Kentucky from Middlesboro to US 421/KY 80 near Big Creek
Major Intersections
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harlan | | 0.000 | 0.000 | Continuation into Virginia | ||||
| 1.351 | 2.174 | Southern terminus of KY 3462 | |||||
Cranks | 2.783 | 4.479 | Southern terminus of KY 568 | |||||
| 3.795 | 6.107 | Southern terminus of KY 3001 | |||||
| 4.034 | 6.492 | Eastern terminus of KY 1138 | |||||
| 6.410 | 10.316 | Eastern terminus of KY 938 | |||||
| 8.008 | 12.888 | Connector road | |||||
| 10.784 | 17.355 | Northern terminus of KY 3001 | |||||
| 10.974 | 17.661 | Southern terminus of KY 2074 | |||||
| 12.901 | 20.762 | Northern terminus of KY 2428 | |||||
Harlan | 14.966 | 24.085 | Southern end of KY 72 concurrency | |||||
15.127 | 24.345 | Northern end of KY 72 concurrency; southern terminus of KY 3459 | ||||||
15.704 | 25.273 | Northern terminus of KY 3459 | ||||||
15.967 | 25.696 | Western terminus of KY 38 | ||||||
| 16.761 | 26.974 | Eastern terminus of KY 840 | |||||
| 17.003 | 27.364 | ||||||
| 17.107 | 27.531 | Southern end of US 119 concurrency | |||||
| 17.846 | 28.720 | Northern end of US 119 concurrency | |||||
| 17.936 | 28.865 | ||||||
| 21.800 | 35.084 | Western terminus of KY 1679 | |||||
Bledsoe | 23.893 | 38.452 | Southern end of KY 221 concurrency | |||||
| 24.942 | 40.140 | Northern end of KY 221 concurrency | |||||
Leslie | | 30.543 | 49.154 | Eastern terminus of KY 2058 | ||||
Asher | 38.352 | 61.722 | Northern terminus of KY 1780 | |||||
Hoskinston | 41.848 | 67.348 | Northern terminus of KY 2009 | |||||
Stinnett | 42.827 | 68.923 | Northern terminus of KY 406 | |||||
Hyden | 49.113 | 79.040 | Southern end of KY 80 concurrency | |||||
49.619 | 79.854 | Southern terminus of KY 257 | ||||||
50.140 | 80.693 | Eastern terminus of KY 118 | ||||||
Bobs Fork | 60.747 | 97.763 | Southern terminus of KY 1482 | |||||
| 62.375 | 100.383 | Southern terminus of KY 3428 | |||||
Clay | | 64.752 | 104.208 | Southern end of KY 66 concurrency | ||||
| 65.527 | 105.455 | Northern end of KY 66 concurrency | |||||
| 73.337 | 118.024 | Eastern terminus of KY 2443 | |||||
| 73.525 | 118.327 | Western terminus of KY 1524 | |||||
| 76.619 | 123.306 | Western terminus of KY 149 | |||||
Garrard | 78.234 | 125.905 | Western terminus of KY 1999 | |||||
| 78.654 | 126.581 | Southern end of KY 11 concurrency | |||||
Manchester | 79.842 | 128.493 | Southern end of KY 80 concurrency; southern terminus of KY 2076; 80 and the parkway to the south, 2076 to the west | |||||
80.896 | 130.189 | Western terminus of KY 2438 | ||||||
80.947 | 130.272 | Southern terminus of KY 2440 | ||||||
81.043 | 130.426 | Eastern terminus of KY 687 | ||||||
81.380 | 130.968 | Eastern terminus of KY 2442 | ||||||
81.453 | 131.086 | Northern terminus of KY 2440 | ||||||
81.507 | 131.173 | Western terminus of KY 3472 | ||||||
81.774 | 131.602 | Eastern terminus of KY 638 | ||||||
| 83.140 | 133.801 | Eastern terminus of KY 3560 | |||||
| 83.741 | 134.768 | Eastern terminus of KY 3473 | |||||
| 85.779 | 138.048 | Western terminus of KY 3477 | |||||
| 86.943 | 139.921 | Northern end of KY 11 concurrency | |||||
| 87.333 | 140.549 | Eastern terminus of KY 472 | |||||
| 91.420 | 147.126 | Southern terminus of KY 1350 | |||||
| 92.703 | 149.191 | Eastern terminus of KY 3478 | |||||
| 94.359 | 151.856 | Southern end of KY 577 concurrency | |||||
| 95.134 | 153.103 | Northern end of KY 577 concurrency | |||||
Jackson | | 97.305 | 156.597 | Eastern terminus of KY 3443 | ||||
| 99.265 | 159.752 | Southern end of KY 30 concurrency | |||||
| 99.417 | 159.996 | Western terminus of KY 1431 | |||||
Tyner | 99.550 | 160.210 | Eastern terminus of KY 3630 | |||||
| 100.364 | 161.520 | Northern end of KY 30 concurrency | |||||
| 103.251 | 166.166 | Western terminus of KY 1071 | |||||
| 105.717 | 170.135 | Western terminus of KY 3445 | |||||
Deer View | 106.542 | 171.463 | Southern terminus of KY 587 | |||||
McKee | 109.951 | 176.949 | Southern terminus of KY 290 | |||||
110.001 | 177.029 | Southern end of KY 89 concurrency | ||||||
110.548 | 177.910 | Northern end of KY 89 concurrency | ||||||
| 117.303 | 188.781 | Western terminus of KY 3446 | |||||
| 117.878 | 189.706 | Southern terminus of KY 2004 | |||||
| 121.950 | 196.260 | Northern terminus of KY 1955 | |||||
| 124.669 | 200.635 | Western terminus of KY 3447 | |||||
Morrill | 125.260 | 201.586 | Northern terminus of KY 1912 | |||||
Rockcastle |
No major junctions | |||||||
Madison | | 128.085 | 206.133 | Southern end of KY 21 concurrency | ||||
Big Hill | 128.250 | 206.398 | Northern end of KY 21 concurrency | |||||
| 129.480 | 208.378 | Western terminus of KY 594 | |||||
Bobtown | 133.205 | 214.373 | Northern terminus of KY 1016 | |||||
| 135.058 | 217.355 | Southern end of KY 3376 concurrency | |||||
| 135.549 | 218.145 | Northern end of KY 3376 concurrency | |||||
| 136.162 | 219.131 | Southern end of KY 499 concurrency | |||||
| 136.196 | 219.186 | Northern end of KY 499 concurrency | |||||
| 138.579 | 223.021 | Southern end of US 25 concurrency | |||||
| 139.580 | 224.632 | Eastern terminus of KY 2872 | |||||
Richmond | 141.994 | 228.517 | Eastern terminus of KY 876; southern terminus of US 25 Bus. and US 421 Bus.; EKU to the west via KY 876 | |||||
142.751 | 229.735 | |||||||
145.250 | 233.757 | Southern terminus of KY 1986 | ||||||
| 146.426 | 235.650 | Northern terminus of US 25 business route; unsigned KY 2876 to the north | |||||
Richmond | 146.730– 146.939 | 236.139– 236.475 | I-75 exit 90 | |||||
147.516 | 237.404 | Southern terminus of KY 1156 | ||||||
| 149.009 | 239.807 | Southern terminus of KY 2878 | |||||
| 151.925 | 244.500 | Western terminus of KY 627; northern terminus of KY 3005 | |||||
| 154.348 | 248.399 | Southern terminus of KY 2328 | |||||
| 154.547 | 248.719 | I-75 Exit 97 | |||||
| 154.691– 154.713 | 248.951– 248.986 | Southern end of I 75 concurrency; KY 2884 straight ahead | |||||
Fayette | Lexington | 155.828 | 250.781 | Exit from I-75 south; northern terminus of KY 2328 | ||||
155.028 | 249.493 | Northern end of I-75 concurrency; I-75 exit 99 | ||||||
158.573 | 255.199 | Southern terminus of KY 1973 | ||||||
158.820 | 255.596 | Southern terminus of KY 1975 | ||||||
159.336 | 256.426 | Western terminus of KY 418 | ||||||
165.762 | 266.768 | Man o' War Boulevard | ||||||
166.763– 166.864 | 268.379– 268.542 | Interchange. KY 4 exit 15 | ||||||
169.461 | 272.721 | Southern end of US 60 concurrency; begin one-way split of east/west lanes | ||||||
170.197 | 273.906 | North end of US 60 concurrency; 27 and 68 both ways, 60 continues to the south | ||||||
170.226 | 273.952 | North end of one-way split | ||||||
170.660 | 274.651 | North end of US 25 concurrency; 25 continues to the north, 922 both ways | ||||||
172.380– 172.524 | 277.419– 277.650 | Interchange; KY 4 exit 7 | ||||||
172.956 | 278.346 | Southern terminus of KY 1978 | ||||||
173.541 | 279.287 | Eastern terminus of KY 1878 | ||||||
176.371 | 283.842 | Western terminus of KY 1977 | ||||||
Scott | | 179.580 | 289.006 | Southern end of US 62 concurrency | ||||
Woodford | Midway | 180.512 | 290.506 | Southern terminus of KY 341 | ||||
182.747 | 294.103 | Northern end of US 62 concurrency | ||||||
| 186.122 | 299.534 | ||||||
Franklin | Frankfort | 190.750 | 306.982 | Interchange; KY 676 straight ahead, ramp to US 60; eastern terminus of KY 676; southern end of US 60 concurrency | ||||
192.202 | 309.319 | Northern end of US 60 concurrency; western terminus of US 460 | ||||||
193.653 | 311.654 | Southern end of US 127 concurrency; interchange | ||||||
195.448 | 314.543 | Northern terminus of KY 420 | ||||||
195.592– 195.736 | 314.775– 315.007 | Robert C. Yount Memorial Bridges over the Kentucky River (one bridge for each direction of travel) | ||||||
195.856 | 315.200 | Northern end of US 127 concurrency; northern terminus of KY 1211 | ||||||
| 198.083 | 318.784 | Southern terminus of KY 1570 | |||||
| 200.290 | 322.336 | Northern terminus of KY 1665 | |||||
| 202.465 | 325.836 | ||||||
| 208.280 | 335.194 | Southern terminus of KY 561 | |||||
Henry | | 213.652 | 343.840 | Northern terminus of KY 1922 | ||||
Shelby | | 215.900 | 347.457 | Northern terminus of KY 43 | ||||
Henry | Pleasureville | 217.863 | 350.617 | Southern end of KY 22 concurrency | ||||
217.878 | 350.641 | Northern terminus of KY 241 | ||||||
| 220.435 | 354.756 | Northern end of KY 22 concurrency; southern terminus of KY 3222 | |||||
| 223.267 | 359.313 | Southern end of KY 55 concurrency | |||||
New Castle | 224.611 | 361.476 | Eastern terminus of KY 573; western terminus of KY 146 | |||||
| 225.110 | 362.279 | Southern terminus of KY 202 | |||||
| 226.871 | 365.113 | Southern terminus of KY 193 | |||||
| 231.478 | 372.528 | Western terminus of KY 574 | |||||
Campbellsburg | 231.551 | 372.645 | Northern end of KY 55 concurrency | |||||
232.538 | 374.234 | Northern terminus of KY 997 | ||||||
| 234.046– 234.195 | 376.661– 376.900 | I-71 exit 34 | |||||
| 234.719 | 377.744 | Northern terminus of KY 1606 | |||||
Trimble | | 238.188 | 383.326 | Western terminus of KY 316 | ||||
Bedford | 241.686 | 388.956 | Southern end of US 42 concurrency | |||||
241.857 | 389.231 | Northern end of US 42 concurrency | ||||||
242.933 | 390.963 | Southern terminus of KY 625 | ||||||
| 245.425 | 394.973 | Eastern terminus of KY 2870 | |||||
| 246.031 | 395.949 | Western terminus of KY 1226 | |||||
| 247.820 | 398.828 | Western terminus of KY 1492 | |||||
Milton | 251.507 | 404.761 | Northern terminus of KY 625 | |||||
253.228 | 407.531 | Western terminus of KY 36 | ||||||
Ohio River | 253.933– 254.351 | 408.666– 409.338 | Milton–Madison Bridge | |||||
Jefferson | Madison | 0.000 | 0.000 | Continuation into Indiana | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- Commonwealth of Kentucky. "Official DMI Route Log". Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (2016). Kentucky Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Frankfort: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. §§ B9, C9-C11, D11, E11-E13 and F13.
- DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. Pages 70-71 and 88.
- DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. Pages 52-53 and 70.
- DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. Pages 37-38.
- DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. Pages 24, 25, 36, and 37.
- Kentucky Department of Highways (1957). Kentucky Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:760,320. Frankfort: Kentucky Department of Highways. §§ G1, G2, G3, H3, H4, I4, I5, J5, I6, and J6.
- "H.B.'s Fun Facts About Kentucky Highways". Archived from the original August 27, 2002. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- Kentucky Department of State Highways (September 15, 1939). Road Map of Kentucky (PDF) (Map). c. 1:760,320. Frankfort: Kentucky Department of State Highways.